Fuse



.lune 30, 1925 1,543,689 s. WILEY FUSE Filed Nov. 8, 1925 Sa I el Wey A TTORNE Y Patented .lune 30, 1925.

SAMUEL WILEY, 0E METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY.

FUSE.

Application filed November 8, 1923. Serial No. 673,445.

(GRANTED UNIDE.l T-I ACT OF MARGH 3,k 1,8831; 22 STAT. L. 625.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, SAMUEL WILEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Metuchen, county of Middlesex, and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Fuses, of which the following is a specification. A

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any,V of its officers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other Aperson in the United States, without payment to me of any royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 3, 1883. I

The present invention relates to -fuses and more specically to fuses of the powder delay type.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a fuse which will positively prevent explosion of the projectile with whichthe fuse is to be used until the projectile has moved a safe distance on its tra.

jectory away from the thrower or user.

A further object is the provision of a vfuse which will not Onlyrprevent premature explosion, but which will prevent explosion after a predetermined time in flight has elapsed.

With the foregoing androther objects in view, my invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de.- scribed vand claimed, yit being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is ai view in side elevation of a hand grenade with my fuse attached thereto;V

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the grenade and fuse; and

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

I have shown at 5 a suitable projectile in this instance, a hand grenade provided with two chambers 6 and.7 separated by a partition 8. The chamber 6 is adapted to receive a suitable explosive 9 while the chamber 7, in the preferred embodiment of my invention, is .open at its outer end to receive a fuse casing 10. This fuse casingk consists, preferably, of a closure member 11 threaded or otherwise secured in the opening formed in the chamber 7 and formed onv its vinner side with a dished surface 12. The fuse casing is provided on its outer surface with an externally screw threaded projection 13 hollowed to receive a primer 14. v

The projection 13 is adapted to be threaded into the usual nipple 15 which servesv to carry the customary hand grenade lever. As shown, this member 15 is formed with a lug 16 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. For exploding the primer 14 I employ a hammer 17 of any suitable type,.preferably, as shown, actuated by aspring 18 which is `wound on the pin 19 secured in the nipple and whichA has one end contacting with the hammer. The hammer isnormally held ininoperative position by the customary lever or handle 20, which approximately L shaped and which has a projection 21 engagingthe lug v16 and which is removably securedto the nipple against the action of the spring 18y and hammer by means of a Cotter pin 22 which passes through the nipple and a pair of ears formed on the handle or lever.

The structure of the hand lever and firing mechanism is that customarily employed with the type of grenade shown and forms no part of my invention. The hammer is actuated by the spring 18, in the usual manner, upon withdrawal of the cotter pin 22 which is equipped with a ring 23 to permit its ready removal from engagement with the nipple and the lever.

y The inner wall of the chamber 7 which is formed by the partition 8 isdished as at 24 in a manner similar to the dishing of the surface 12 of the fuse casing. Mounted between the two surfaces 12 and 24 and with their outer faces' normally seated against these surfaces are a pair of normally separated blocks 25 and 26. t

The outer face of one of these blocks, as for instance, the block 25, is formed with an annular groove'adaptedto rece-ive a powder train 27 acting asa delay charge which as will be explained hereinafter serves as a means for actuating the `explosive with which thegren'ade is charged. The other of the blocks as for instance the block 26, is formedlwith a projection 28 adapted to vention, the b loelr 2 5,gis, providedjv with. an

Vrecipro'catein a 'recess 29 providedin the other block which recess filledI for apor- 'tion of its lengthv with a powder` pellet. forl a purpose which will VVhereinafterbe exrplained. f YVThe yprojection 28 andthe block 26, are hollowed to receive a delay charge 3l.

The powder pelletv andthe delay charge 31' are so arranged as to Vprevent movement ofl the yprojection y28 inv thehlock 25 until the powder lpellet and the delay` `have been consumed.

. In the preferred embodiment; of my in-r aperture by meansfoil which vthe iiasli Yfrom the powder .pellet vmay travel to the delay Vcharge or powdertrain 27.

Anyv suitable. means may be lprovidedV for maintaining theblocks 25 and 2e, apart. inV

flight. As, shown, the innerv surfacesof the blocks are formedgwitlr annular. grooves 34 andV seated 1n these,Y grooves and, interposed., between Athe twoblocks is ,a coil spring 'The face 240jthe partition 8 isiormed with a series of. grooves Sfadapted to receive a felt washer ffand" with a centralr' recess 381m Ywhich isseated a powder pellet.

Any suitable meansmay be provided for.v

actuatingthe explosive 'cliarge of thegrenade@ Asshown, thepartition 8 is recessed as at. 40v to kreceivea Vdetonator casing 41 -se-V vcured by a screwl head 42 in the recess formedA ingthepartition,VV A n aperture'43 isV formed inthe partitionin line with thepellet` 39'. andiA the screw head is provided with. v side recesses 44 and a; centralaperture 45xby.. meansvof which'the iiashgfrom the pelletz39;

may be communicated to the detonator in thedetonator casingv so thatthe detonator will break the casing41 and the wall inter-k vening between'itv and the eX-plosivecharge to actuate the explosive and fragmentate they grenade.` p The operation ofimy. fuse israsfollows: The soldier using the grenade. irst'withf draws the cotter, pin 22.- As the grenade is projected the lever 2O is thrown offv bythe.

force of the spring 18 which movesthe hainmertostrike the primer 14. VThe flash from. the Primer passing through. an Opening. 4:6; in the fuse casing ignitesthe delaySl. This delay may be 0f any predetermmedy flum-` tion, its function. is to cooperatewith the powderl .pellet l30 to preventQrelatiy/e moyement of the blocks 25tand26funti1the grenade has moved a safe'distance away on'its trajectory, When the delay and'4 thepQwder pelletare consumed(the fuseis.armed,v the spring 35 serving to ,maintainfthe blocks apartfinflight, Ifthe l'OleCtile Strilbe v fore the fuse is. armedtie grenade is ay dud.

- When the powdery vpelletf3( v iS ignited. the

flash from the same passesthrough,thefapery ture32to ignite thefdelay charge YThis delay'charge may beof any predetermined as on impactrwhen the feltfwasherl 37 is thrown outofi'therecess 36. .As stated the delay 27 Vis. ot a fixed duration; if the gre- Yn`a'de7strikes after it isfarmed and while the delay 27 is still burning the felt washer will be thrown! out'of the recesses 36 andfthe length, yThe spring 35 in flight-holds the vblock/25 andthedelay 'charge V274 contained therein/'ilush against the :teltV washer 37, and hence the delay., charge cannot ignite the Vpowder pellet 38 until the block 25 is movedY away from the surface 24 of the partition 8 delay wil-lbe able to lignite 'thepowder pel- V i let 39 whichin turnwill actuate the detona:

tile strikes-` after `the'delay 27 the grenade is a dud.`

The usefthenV whichforms the subject of this iny'ention .prevents explosion'of 'the grenade until a predetermined time meas.-

ured by Vthe length. ofv thev delayjchafrge' 31`r and the size of the powder V4pellet 30 has elapsed-and further preventsexplosion' of the grenade after af' predetermined v time measurediby thelengthpf the powder train 27 has expired. y Y To prevent movement of the blocks 25 and 2 6 relative away from each other afterjm-V pactnnder 'force off the spring 25, I preferablyprovide one of the blocks,l as shown the block 26,-witlraspring vdog47 which is attached-,at one end to ,the block` 26 andfwhiclnV is adapted Vto engage selectively, ingrooves 4 8 formed inl the othenblock.,

The inclined surfaces. formed by thedished faces I2 4. and 12,l permit my fuse to function.

n o matter how it strikes, the fuse blocksridreo ing upon these faces whateverthe position. j of impact` and- Vbeing forcedV` by thesefaces together against: the action off the spring 35.

Y iVVhile, I have describedmy fuse as applied to a handfgrenaddfitfis clear -thatthefsame' may be used. with a Arifle grenade byfunj-`r threadingy the nipplel l5 fronrthe projection.- 13. The fuse,n ioreover,` isnQtlimited to.

use asabase fuse but may be positioned any yconvenient locationi on Vthe grenade.V `The fuse, moreover, 1s byv no Vmeans limited, to

use with,A grenadesV being applicable t9 any suitable projectileL' Y As shown, the grenade Vmay-dce!illed closed by a nut 5Qscrew threaded V `beinglac laptefcl tofmove vtowardone .another on :imp act, one offsaid bloclgsfprovided--with 1 l' a powder train. of predetermined. length adaptedto explodesaid projectile when said` blocks are moved toward one another, means interposed between said blocks and'maintaining said blocks apart in flight, a projection on one of said blocks, said projection being hollowed out to receive a .delay charge, the other block provided with a recess adapted to receive said projection and with an opening communicating with said powder train, a powder pellet in the recess adapted to prevent movement of the blocks toward one another until the delay charge and pellet have been consumed and a primer adapted to ignite the delay charge.

2. A fuse for projectiles embodying two normally separated blocks adapted to move toward one another on impact, one of the blocks provided with a pow-der train of predetermined length adapted to explode the projectile when the blocks are moved toward one another, means for maintaining the blocks apart in flight and a. powder train interposed between the blocks adapted to prevent movement of the blocks toward one another until after a predetermined timein flight has elapsed.

3. A fuse for projectiles embodying two normally separated blocks adapted to move toward one another on impact, one of the blocks provided with a. powder train of predetermined length adapted to explode the projectile when the blocks are moved toward one another, means maintaining the blocks apart in flight and means preventing movement of the blocks until after a predetermined time in flight has elapsed.

4:. A fuse for projectiles embodying two normally separated blocks capable of relative axial movement on impact, one of the blocks provided with a powder train of predetermined length adapted to explode the projectile, said powder train being operable only when the blocks are moved together, means for maintaining the blocks apart in flight and means preventing movement of the blocks until after a predetermined timein flight has elapsed.

5. A fuse for projectiles embodying a delay charge of predetermined length adapted to be moved to operative position by the force of impact to aetuate the explosive with which the projectile is charged, means preventing movement of the ldelay charge until a predetermined time has elapsed after the discharge of the projectile, and means for maintaining the delay Vcharge in inoperative position during flight.

6. A fuse for projectiles embodying two normally sep-arated blocks adapted to move toward o-ne another on impact, one of the blocks provided with a powder train of predetermined length adapted to explode the projectile when the blocks are moved toward one another, means for maintaining the blocks apart in flight, and a powder train interposed between the blocks adapted to prevent movement of the blocks toward one another until after a .predetermined time in flight has elapsed and adapted to initiate combustion of the first mentioned powder train.

7. A'fuse for projectiles embodying two normally separated blocks adapted to move. toward each other on impact, one of the blocks provided with means for exploding the projectile when the blocks are moved toward each other and means preventing the movement of the blocks until after a predetermined time in flight has elapsed and initiating action of the projectile exploding means.

SAMUEL WILEY. 

